Owners - Frequently Asked Questions

Q

What kind of Carer will you choose for us ?

A

We have a wide variety of carers, all experienced at looking after dogs with different needs. Our job is to find care, as near as possible to your home, where both your dog and the carer are happy together.

We arrange for you all to meet beforehand, for peace of mind before you go away.

Q

Can my dog go to the same carer each time ?

A

We do try to give you the same carer each time. However, we do not generally have more than one family’s dogs visiting at any time. If your carer is already booked we will find you another.

Once we have received your completed registration form (together with the annual registration fee), we will have a better understanding of the needs of your dog and will be able to give you an indication of the cost for your booking. Our current rates for single dogs are between £13.50 and £18.00 plus VAT per calendar day (i.e. per day or part day) for one dog - this typically works out to between roughly £16.00 and £18.00 per day (including VAT) for most dogs. we have separate scales for owners wishing us to look after more than one dog at a time (please note our usual maximum is three dogs per carer although we have limited numbers of carers who are able to manage more than one or two dogs).

The rate will also depend upon the time of year for your booking and carer availability.

We try to fit in with your requirements, whatever they are.

Q

When will I have to pay for my booking ?

A

Our payment terms are shown on the main Owners page.

Q

How much notice do you need ?

A

5 days or more is helpful, especially at busy times such as the Summer holidays, but we always try to fit in with your requirements.

Q

Do you have any availability for the main holiday season ?

A

As you can appreciate a lot of carers are already committed for the 2008 holiday season, however we do still have available slots. So it's worth giving us a call and checking. If we have been unable to help you before and you would like to use us in future, we do recommend early booking wherever possible to avoid disappointment.

We recognise that plans sometimes have to be changed unexpectedly and we will always try to be sympathetic, however, once a booking has been made and a carer has been allocated to look after your dog, a percentage of the booking fee would still be payable in the event of cancellation (again, please see our payment terms on the main Owners page).

If you have any uncertainty at the outset about whether a booking will go ahead, we recommend speaking to an insurance broker who may be able to arrange suitable cancellation insurance for you.

We do provide care for dogs over the Christmas and New Year period, however carer availability is generally a lot lower than at other times. Please note that the daily rate is double for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, unless there is carer agreement or your booking is for 2 weeks or more.

Q

Are there any types of dogs that you cannot look after ?

A

Any dog we look after needs to be fully house trained, not destructive in the house and not aggressive. They should be up to date with routine vaccinations (kennel cough not required), and with worming and parasite programmes. Also, please see below re: breeds that we can accept.

Q

Are there any breeds this scheme does not suit ?

A

There are some breeds that we are unable to provide care for – it is our experience that the larger security dog breeds such as German Shepherd Dogs can become possessive in another home, so please check that your dog is suitable for care.